PANAJI
Confusion prevailed among the Catholic community over Palm Sunday services, following the imposition of Section 144 in the State by both district magistrates on Saturday evening.
The order under Section 144 stated that “public celebrations and gatherings, congregations during these upcoming festivals like Holi, Shab-e Barat, Easter and Eid-ul-Fitr etc, shall not be allowed in public places/public grounds/public parks/market etc. in the State.”
“Any person contravening this order shall be punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. As the notice cannot be served individually on all concerned, the order is hereby passed ex-parte,” stated the order.
Many Catholics, who were planning to attend Palm Sunday services in churches and chapels, began to enquire if Masses would be cancelled on Sunday, on account of the imposition of Section 144 in the State.
When contacted, some priests said it was unclear if Section 144 was applicable to religious celebrations in churches during Palm Sunday services.
“Is Section 144 applicable to congregations for Palm Sunday services inside churches as well? Or is it only applicable for celebrations in public spaces,” were some queries raised by a priest.
“There is no clarity on this in the magistrate’s order, especially since we believe Section 144 is applicable with immediate effect.”
Other priests felt that the orders of the magistrates were circulated on social media late Saturday evening and it was too late to make changes to the services on Palm Sunday.
“We had already announced Palm Sunday services well in advance and people are expected to come to our church to participate in these services. It is too late now to intimate people of any change and even if we wanted to do so, we have no means at our disposal at this point in time to intimate the devotees,” said another priest on Saturday night.
Adding to the uncertainty, priests said there were no instructions issued from the Archbishop’s House in light of Section 144 imposed in the State.
“It is unlikely that the Bishop’s House would issue any directives at such short notice and at night, barely hours before the celebration of Palm Sunday services at all churches and chapels in the State,” said a priest.
Given these uncertainties and difficulties, churches and chapels across the State were unlikely to cancel public congregations for Palm Sunday services at such short notice, in view of the imposition of Section 144 in the State.
